Toy track system

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a toy track system and methods of using such embodiments are described. In general, the system may include a track that has a longitudinal passage with an insert disposed in the longitudinal passage. A toy may be positioned adjacent the track so that it is proximate to the insert inside the longitudinal passage. When so positioned, an attractive force (such as, e.g., a magnetic force) may couple the toy to the insert so that as the toy and insert may move in a corresponding fashion along the track.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/910,395 filed Apr. 5, 2007 entitled “Toy Track System” which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate in general to toys and moreparticularly, to toy systems that provide movement through the movementof a fluid.

BACKGROUND

Toy track systems have been severely lacking in innovation in eitherproviding faster propulsion or revolutionary performance for years.Current systems often fling a toy car down a track using two spinningwheels on either side of the track. Such systems cannot providecontinuous power to propel the car along the track which can, therefore,limit the length of the track as well as the size and complexity ofpossible track arrangements and/or stunts performed by the toy cars onthe track. These track systems typically rely on gravity, momentum andcentrifugal force to keep the toys on the track. Unfortunately, this isoften not enough to keep the car from going off of the track.

Toy slot car racing systems use electric motors in the cars andelectricity in the track to propel the cars. The user is able to controlthe speed of the car in these systems by controlling the amount ofelectrical power provided to the track. Later versions of these systemsused magnets attached to the underside of the car to help keep the caron the track. A weakness of these slot car systems is that the toy carscan only be used on the electrical track which are often made of hard,injection molded pieces that fit together in a limited number ofconfigurations thereby limiting the range of track shapes. The trackpieces are often hard to assemble and may oftentimes be easily broken.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of a toy track system and methods of using such embodimentsare described. In general, the system may include a track that has alongitudinal passage with an insert (which may also be referred to as aninternal member) disposed in the longitudinal passage. A toy may bepositioned adjacent the track so that it is proximate to the insertinside the longitudinal passage. When so positioned, an attractive force(such as, e.g., a magnetic force) may couple the toy to the insert sothat as the toy and insert may move in a corresponding fashion along thetrack.

In one embodiment, the toy may comprise a toy car. In anotherembodiment, a pump may be in fluid communication with the longitudinalpassage to provide for the movement (or flow) of fluid (such as e.g.,airflow or flow of a liquid such as, for instance water) in thelongitudinal passage. While a variety of pumps may be used to move fluidin the longitudinal passage, in one embodiment, the pump may comprise avacuum. In another embodiment, the pump may comprise a blower. In someembodiments the pump may be hand or foot powered and in otherembodiments it may be motorized (e.g., an electrical or gas poweredblower or vacuum).

The track may be constructed so that it comprises a plurality ofsegments detachably connectable with one another. In one embodiment, thetrack may be constructed so that it is sufficiently flexible to permit auser to form the track into a ring-shaped track. In another embodiment,the track may be sufficiently flexible so that the track may be twistedso that it has a longitudinal twist. In this manner, the track may beshaped to form a Mobius strip.

In one embodiment, the insert may be generally spherical in shape. Inone such embodiment, the insert may comprise a ball bearing. In anotherembodiment, the insert may be generally cylindrical in shape. In afurther embodiment, the insert may have a generally oval cross section.At least a portion of the insert may comprise a magnetizable metaland/or a magnetic material (i.e., a magnet).

In one embodiment, the toy may have a magnetizable metal portion orand/or a magnet that may be magnetically attracted to the insert.

In one embodiment, fluid in the longitudinal passage may be moved (i.e.,using the pump for example) in order to move the insert along thelongitudinal passage. In this manner, the toy is moved along the trackas the insert is moved. In one embodiment, a pressure differential maybe caused in the longitudinal passage in order to move the insert in thelongitudinal passage so that the toy is moves along the track as theinsert is moved. In one embodiment, the fluid may comprise air. Inanother embodiment, the fluid may comprise a liquid.

In another embodiment, a motor may be provided in the toy to provide ameans for propelling the toy along the track. For example, in a toy carembodiment, the toy may contain a motor that is operatively coupled toat least one wheel of the toy car so that when the motor is activated,the coupled wheel(s) is rotated to move the toy car along the track. Themotor embodiment may be implemented in embodiments where fluid is movedalong the passage using a pump (as previously mentioned) or withoutmovement of a fluid by a pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a toytrack system with a track in an exemplary ring-shaped configuration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing how a track may be bent orflexed into a variety of configurations in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating how an exemplary track maybe twisted along its longitudinal axis in order to allow the track to beshaped into a Mobius strip;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary track twisted so that itis shaped into a Mobius strip;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary track in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cross section of the exemplary trackshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative implementation ofthe exemplary track shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative implementation of anexemplary track in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cross-section of a pair of trackportions coupled together in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the pair of track portions shown in FIG.8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cross-section of an exemplaryimplementation of a toy positioned on a track proximal to an insert in alongitudinal passage of the track in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of arrangement of the illustrativetoy, track and insert shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic bottom view of an illustrative toy in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic side perspective view of an illustrative wheeledimplementation of an insert in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the illustrativewheeled implementation of the insert shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of one portion of theillustrative wheeled implementation of the insert shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of another portion of theillustrative wheeled implementation of the insert shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary wheel that maybe used in the illustrative wheeled implementation of the insert shownin FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative track holderin use attached to a rod in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic exploded view of the illustrative track holdershown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a schematic exploded view of an illustrative pivotingimplementation of a track holder in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic front view of an illustrative track holder inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a schematic side view of an illustrative track holder inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative track holderand associated accessories in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrativeimplementation of a junction piece of a track in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the illustrativejunction piece shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view of another portion of theillustrative junction piece shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an illustrativeimplementation of a junction piece of a track having exemplary dual flowgates in an open position in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view of the portion of theillustrative junction piece shown in FIG. 27 with the dual flow gates ina closed position;

FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an illustrativeimplementation of a junction piece of a track having an exemplary singleflow gate in an open position in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a schematic perspective view of the portion of theillustrative junction piece shown in FIG. 27 with the flow gate in aclosed position;

FIG. 31 is a schematic exploded view of an exemplary flow controller inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a schematic side representation of an embodiment of the tracksystem illustrating the positioning of an exemplary vehicle-shaped toywith respect to an insert in a tube of a track in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view of a bottom portion of anexemplary vehicle-shaped toy with a motor provided in the toy forrotating at least one wheel of the toy so that the motor may at leastassist in moving the toy along the track; and

FIG. 34 is a schematic view of an exemplary motor that may be includedin the toy to rotate one or more wheels of the toy to at least assist inmoving the toy along the track in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of a toy track system and methods of using such embodimentsare further described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-34. In general,embodiments of the system may include a track that has a longitudinalpassage with an insert (which may also be referred to as an internalmember) disposed in the longitudinal passage. A toy may be positionedadjacent the track so that it is proximate to the insert inside thelongitudinal passage. When so positioned, an attractive force (such as,e.g., a magnetic force) may couple the toy to the insert so thatmovement of the insert in the longitudinal passage may correspondinglymove the toy along the track. With the embodiments described herein, auser may be afforded the freedom to design their own unique trackconfiguration including configurations that are not limited to a singleside of the track.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a toytrack system 100 with a track 102 in an exemplary ring-shapedconfiguration. A toy 104 (in this case, an illustrative toy vehicular orcar) may be placed on the track 102. As shown in the exploded circle inFIG. 1, the track 102 may include a longitudinal passage 106 insidewhich an insert (or insert) 108 (which in this embodiment, is shown asan illustrative ball bearing) may be positioned. A pump 110 may be influid communication with a longitudinal passage 106 of the track 102 tomove fluid (e.g., air or a liquid) in the longitudinal passage 106 andthereby move the insert 108 through the longitudinal passage as thefluid is moved. In one embodiment, the pump 110 may comprise a vacuum sothat the air (or other fluid) and, thereby the insert 108, is pulledthrough the longitudinal passage 106 by the suction force of the vacuum.Alternatively, the pump 110 may comprise a blower or some other devicethat pushes the fluid and insert 108 through the longitudinal passage106 by the force of the blower. In one embodiment, the pump 108 may beelectrically or gas powered to effect the movement of air. In anotherembodiment, the pump 108 may be hand or foot powered (i.e., powered by auser). For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the pump may includea deformable chamber or bladder that can be deformed, for example, bysqueezing of the chamber with a user's foot or hand to thereby force airout of the chamber and then released to allow air to rush into thechamber. The chamber may also have a valve that determines whether thechamber embodiment of the pump is a blower or a vacuum. A reservoir maybe provided in fluid communication with the chamber to allow air to beaccumulated or a vacuum to be increase so that the flow of air betweenthe pump and the longitudinal passage is not stopped or interrupted whenthe user stops deforming the chamber. In another embodiment, the pumpmay even be powered through use of exercise equipment such as anexercise bicycle or a stair climbing exercise machine.

In one embodiment, the track 102 may be constructed from a material topermit the bending and twisting (and other contortions) of the track 102into a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, the track 102 may beconstructed from a resilient plastic material. FIG. 2 is a schematicillustration showing how a track 102 may be bent or flexed into avariety of configurations such as, for example, a variety of loops,turns and banks so that the path followed by the toy 104 on the track102 can so be shaped by a user. The track 102 may also be constructed sothat resilient twisting of the track 102 is permitted along thelongitudinal axis of the track as shown in FIG. 3A. In this manner thetrack 102 may be shaped into a twist that permits the track 102 to beshaped into Mobius strip as shown in FIG. 3B. Because the attractiveforce between the toy 104 and the insert 108, the toy 104 may be heldagainst the track 102 (while still permitting movement of the toy 104and insert 108 along the length of the track 102) even when the toy 104is in an upside down position due to such as twists and loops in thetrack 102.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show cross-sections of an exemplary embodiment of atrack 102. As shown, the track 102 has a longitudinal passage 106 with agenerally circular cross section although the longitudinal passage 106may be constructed so that its cross sections may be in other shapessuch as an oval, rectangle, square, triangle, hexagon, for example. Thetrack 102 includes upper and lower longitudinal faces 112, 114 on whichthe toy 104 may be positioned. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and6, between two side passages 116, 118 may be formed between thelongitudinal faces 112, 114 with the longitudinal passage interposedbetween them.

As an option, the track 102 may also include side walls 120, 122 thatextend away from both longitudinal faces 112, 114 of the track 102. As afurther option, the side walls may include side flanges 124, 126.

As a further option, the faces 112, 114 of the track 102 may be shapedso that the extents 128, 130 connect the regions forming the sidepassages 116, 118 to the longitudinal passage 106. As shown in FIG. 7,the edges of the side passages 116, 118 adjacent to the extents 128, 130may be rounded for providing a more durable and less-sharp contour tothe faces 112, 114 of the track 102.

In some embodiments, the track 102 may be constructed from a pluralityof track portions or segments that may be coupled together end-to-end topermit a user to extend or decrease the overall length of the track 102.FIGS. 8 and 9 depict an exemplary coupling between a pair of trackportions 132, 134 in accordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 8and 9, the coupling of track portions 132, 134 may be accomplished usingcoupling inserts 136, 138 that may be extended, for example, into theopen ends of the side passages 116, 118 of adjacent track portions 132,134. In one embodiment, the coupling inserts 136, 138 may include a nub137 that can be extending into a corresponding hole 139 in the trackportion to help further secure the coupling insert 136, 138 when thecoupling insert 136, 138 is inserted into the end of the track portion.As an option, a gasket 140 may be provided between the adjacent ends ofthe track portions 132, 134 to help ensure an air-tight seal around thejunction of the longitudinal passages 106 of the track portions 132, 134when the ends of the track portions 132, 134 are positioned next to eachother.

The coupling of adjacent track portions 132, 134 may also beaccomplished and/or further secured using one or more latches. A pair ofexemplary latches 142, 144 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, with each latch142, 144 having a pair of coupling portions 146, 148 that can bedetachably or releasably engaged to another and a corresponding pair ofmounting hardware 150, 152 that are coupled to the sides (e.g., sidewalls 120, 122) of the track portions 132, 134 and to which the couplingportions 146, 148 are mounted. Preferably, the coupling portions 146,148 may be movably or pivotally mounted to the respective mountinghardware 150, 152 to permit movement relative to one another to assistin the attaching and detaching of the coupling portions 146, 148 withone another.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict a positioning of an exemplary toy 104 (shown as atoy car) positioned on the track 102 proximal to an insert 108 in alongitudinal passage 106 of the track 102. While the toy 104 is shown asa toy car in FIGS. 10 and 11, it should be understood that theconfiguration of the toy is not limited to cars. The toy may beconfigured in any shape and may comprise, for example (but not limitedto) dolls, figurines, humanoids, animals, airplanes, spaceships, boats,flying monkeys and so on. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the toy 104 maybe positioned on a longitudinal face 112 of the track 102 so that aportion of the toy (in this case, the wheels of the toy car) is incontact or close proximity with the longitudinal face 112 with theinsert 108 positioned in the longitudinal passage 106 adjacent the toy104. In the embodiment shown, the toy 104 may include a magnet 154located on a bottom surface of the toy 104 which is magneticallyattracted to the insert 108 (in this case a metal ball bearing). Inanother embodiment, the toy 104 may include a plate or othermagnetizable attracting member capable of being magnetically attractedto the insert 108 or vice versa (i.e., the insert is the magnet). Inuse, the movement of air or other fluid in the longitudinal passage 106may cause the insert 108 to be move in the longitudinal passage 106.Because of the attractive force between the insert 108 and the magnet154, the toy 104 is moved along the track 102 as the insert is moved inthe longitudinal passage 106. Further options for positioning of theinsert 108 with respect to the magnet 154/toy 104 can be seen withreference to FIG. 32 which presents a side view of one exemplaryarrangement/positioning of the insert 108, the toy 104, and the magnet154.

FIG. 12 is a schematic bottom view of the illustrative toy car shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 showing in illustrative placement of the magnet 154towards the front end of the toy 104. While the magnet 154 has beenpositioned towards the front end of the toy 104, it should be understoodthat the magnet 154 can be placed at other positions on the toy (suchas, e.g., the middle or the back end of the toy)

FIGS. 13-17 depict an implementation of an illustrative wheeled inset156 that may be used in various embodiments. The illustrative wheeledinsert 156 may include a two-part body 158, 160 forming a chassis 162 towhich a plurality of wheels 164, 166 may be rotatably mounted. Thechassis 162 may also have a hole 168 for receiving a magnet ormagnetically attractable metal/compound therein. As depicted, this hole168 may be cylindrical in shape in order to receive a generallycylindrical magnet. In one embodiment, the magnet may be coupled to theside wall of the hole 168. When inserted into the hole 168, the magnetmay be frictionally coupled to side wall of the hole 168. An adhesivemay also be used to couple the magnet to the side wall of the hole 168.

One end of the chassis 162 may have a plug 170 that may be used toprovide a barrier when the wheeled insert 156 is positioned in thelongitudinal passage 106 of the track 102 to help enhance the pressureagainst the plug 170 and thereby help ensure that the wheeled insert 156is moved through the longitudinal passage 106 by the movement of the airor other fluid in the longitudinal passage 106. As shown, the plug 170may be cup-shaped with an interior space 172 that may be generallycylindrical in shape. This interior space 172 may act like sail andcatch air or fluid therein to help enhance the pushing force of air orfluid against the plug 170 and thereby move the wheeled insert 156 inthe longitudinal passage 106.

With particular reference to FIGS. 15-17, the two portions 158, 160 ofthe body may each have slots 174, 176 for extending the wheels 164, 166of the wheeled insert 156. The slots 174, 176 may also include axlesockets 178, 180 that can receive the axles (e.g., axle 182 shown inFIG. 17-a corresponding axle may be provided on the other side of thewheel shown in FIG. 17) of the wheels 164, 166. The two portions 158,160 of the body may be coupled together using an adhesive, for example.When coupled together, the axles 182 of the wheels 164, 166 may berotated inside the axle sockets 178, 180 to permit rotation of thewheels 164, 166 about their axles 182.

As previously mentioned, a user may shape the track 102 by bending itand/or twisting it a variety of configurations. In order to help holdthe track 102 in these configurations, the system 100 may include one ormore track holders.

FIGS. 18 and 19 depict an illustrative implementation of a track holder184 in accordance with one embodiment. The track holder 184 shown inFIGS. 18 and 19 has a generally U-shaped configuration with a base 186forming the bottom of the U-shape and a pair of upside down U-shapedarms 188, 190 forming the two arms of the U-shape of the track holder184. In use, the U-shape of the track holder 184 forms a saddle forreceiving a portion of the track 102 with the sides of the track 102held between the arms 188, 190. The arms 188, 190 of the track holder184 may also include channels 192, 194 that may be used to receivecorresponding side flanges 124, 126 of a track 102 to help hold thetrack 102 more securely in the track holder 184. The U-shape design ofthese track holders may be helpful in allowing the toy to passunobstructed on both sides of the track.

The track holder may also include a flexible strap or belt 196 to attachthe track holder 184 to a structure such as a rod 198 or dowel as shownin FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 19, the ends of the strap 196 may include afastener such as a hook and loop fastener 197 a, 197 b for coupling theends of the strap 196 together to help further secure the strap to astructure 198. As shown in FIG. 18, the strap 196 may be coupled to thetrack holder 184 by extending the strap through corresponding slots 200,202 in the base 186 of the track holder 184.

In one embodiment, the base 186 may be constructed from two portions204, 206 that are rotatably coupled to each other as depicted FIG. 20.In such an embodiment, one portion 204 of the base 186 may include asocket 208 into which a corresponding extent 210 of the other portion206 of the base 186 may be received so that the extent 210 may rotate inthe socket 208 so that the U-shaped portion of the track holder 184 mayrotate with respect to the bottom portion 204 that may be secured to astructure 198. FIGS. 21 and 22 show further details of the arms 188, 190and the channels 192, 194 of the implementation of the track holder 184shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 shows an illustrative track holder 184 with associatedaccessories in accordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, thebase 186 of track holder 184 may include a hole 212 into which an end214 of a strut may be extended. In FIG. 23, three exemplary struts areshown: a vertical strut 216 and two angled struts 218, 220. The angledstruts 218, 220 each have one end (e.g., ends 222, 224) that is extendedat an angle from the axis of the remainder of the given strut. While theends of an angled strut 218, 220 may be extended at any angle, anembodiment of the system may be implemented where the angled struts 218,220 include struts having ends extending at 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° fromthe axis of the remainder of the given angled strut.

The accessories may also include one or more stands 226 that have asocket 228 for receiving an end of a strut (e.g., ends 230, 232,234—i.e., the other end of the strut that is not inserted into the hole212 of the track holder 184). In use, such stands 226 may be used tosupport a track holder 184 and strut (e.g., struts 216, 218, 220) abovea surface on which the stand 226 rests. To enhance stability, a stand226 may also be weighted.

As a further option, the accessories may include a clamping stand 236that includes a clamp portion 238 and one or more sockets 240, 242 forreceiving an end of a strut (e.g., struts 216, 218, 220) in a similarfashion to the hole 212 of a stand 226. In use, the clamp portion 238may be used to attach the clamping stand 236 to a structure to hold atrack holder 184 and strut in place with respect to the structure.

As shown in FIG. 23, the ends of the struts may be threaded (e.g.,threading 244) to permit threadable coupling of the struts withcomplementary threads (e.g., threads 246, 248) in the sockets of thestands 226, 236. In addition, the accessories may include one or moresecure caps 250 that are also threaded and that may be treaded on to theend of a strut that is inserted into the hole 212 of a track holder 184to secure the strut to the track holder. Alternatively, the hole 212 ofthe track holder itself may be threaded so that a threaded end of astrut may be threadably coupled directly to the track holder.

The accessories may further include one or more track joints 252 thatmay be used to couple adjacent track portions together.

FIGS. 24-26 depict an illustrative implementation of a junction piece254 of a track in accordance with one embodiment. The junction piece 254is intended to provide a link between the pump 110 and the longitudinalchannel 106 of the track 102. As shown in FIGS. 24-26, a junction piece254 may include a plurality of prongs 256, 258, 260, 262 at each endthat may be inserted into corresponding end openings of the sidepassages 116, 118 of a track 102 or track portion (e.g., track portions132, 134) that are depicted in FIGS. 4-11 for example. In this fashion,the junction piece 254 may be coupled to the ends of track portions 132,134.

The junction piece 254 may also include a longitudinal passage 264 that,when the junction piece 254 is coupled to track portions 132, 134, isaligned with (and in fluid communication with) the longitudinal passage106 of the track 102. The junction piece 254 may also include aplurality of inflow/outflow ports 266, 268 that open (and are in fluidcommunication with) into the longitudinal passage 264 and that permitconnection to a pump 110 and/or to serve as an exhaust port. In use, oneend of a tube such as a vacuum hose may be coupled to an open end of oneof the inflow/outflow ports 266, 268 with the other end of the tubecoupled to the pump 110 in order to couple the pump 110 with thelongitudinal passage 264 of the junction piece (and thereby thelongitudinal passage 106 of the track 102).

As shown in FIGS. 24-26, a junction piece 254 may be constructed from apair of complementary portions 270, 272 that may be coupled together toform the junction piece 254. In the implementation shown in FIGS. 24-26,the portions may have corresponding pins 271, 273 and holes 275, 277 foraiding in the proper alignment of the two portions 270, 272 when coupledtogether.

FIGS. 27-30 illustrate two other implementations of a junction piece 254with FIGS. 27 and 28 depicting one portion 274 of an implementation ofthe junction piece 254 having exemplary dual flow gates 276, 278 andFIGS. 29 and 30 depicting a similar portion 280 of an implementation ofthe junction piece 254 having an exemplary single flow gate 282. Theimplementations shown in FIGS. 27-30 also show an alternativearrangement of the inflow/outflow ports 266, 268 that are perpendicularto the longitudinal passage 264 of the junction piece 254 rather thanorientated at an acute angle like the inflow/outflow ports 266, 268depicted in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 24-26. In use, the flow gates276, 278, 282 may be movable (in the embodiments shown, they arepivotable) between an open position (shown in FIGS. 27 and 29) thatpermits the flow of fluid (i.e., air or a liquid) through thelongitudinal passage 264 and a closed position (shown in FIGS. 28 and30) where the flow gates 276, 278, 282 extend into the longitudinalpassage 264 and thereby close the longitudinal passage 264 to block thefluid flow therethrough. By controlling the position of the flow gates276, 278, 282 between these two positions (i.e., open and closed), auser may control the flow of fluid in the longitudinal passage 106 ofthe track 102 and thereby control the speed at which the insert 108 ismoved through the longitudinal passage 106 (and thereby control themovement of the toy 104 along the track).

FIG. 31 is a schematic exploded view of an exemplary flow controller 283in accordance with one embodiment. As shown, this flow controller 283includes a hose connector 284 for connecting to a hose of a pump 110(e.g., a vacuum), a pipe 286 that is inserted into the hose connector284, an air latch 288 with a hinge 290 and hinge screw 291 to pivotallycouple the latch 288 to the pipe 286 and a spring 292 to bias or urgethe latch 288 in a certain direction when so mounted to the pipe 286.The flow controller 283 may also include a backing plate 294 that iscoupled to the other end of the pipe 286 opposite the hose connector284. A pair of inflow/outflow tubes 296, 298 may be coupled to the pipe286 so that the lumens of the tubes 296, 298 are in fluid communicationwith the pipe 286. A pair of stabilizers 300, 302 may also be coupled tothe tubes 296, 298 and the pipe 286 to enhance the stability andcoupling between these components.

An embodiment of the toy track system may be implemented in which amotor 304 is provided in the toy 10 as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. In suchan embodiment, the motor 304 may be operatively coupled to one or morewheels (e.g., wheels 306, 308) so that the motor can be used to rotatethe wheels and thereby move the toy 104 along the track 102. Forexample, in one embodiment, the motor may include some sort of a drive310 (such as a drive shaft) that can be coupled (such as e.g., using oneor more gears, drive plates, teeth, etc.) to an axle to which the wheelsare coupled or directly to the wheel so that when the drive is rotatedupon activation of the motor, the axle and/or wheel are rotated in acorresponding manner. In some embodiments, rather than wheels, someother track engaging member that is in contact with and/or engages thetrack may be coupled to the motor so that activation of the motor movesthe track engaging member which through its movement, in turn, moves (orat least helps move) the toy along the track. The motor 304 may includean actuator to selectively turn the motor on and off. The actuator maybe provided on the toy itself or in some sort of remote controller sothat a user can control activation of the motor remotely.

Inclusion of such a motorized toy may be provided in embodiments of thetrack system where a fluid is moved through the interior passage 106(e.g., using some sort of a pump) as well as in embodiments where nofluid is moved. Thus the motor 154 can provide either a meansindependent of the movement of the fluid to move the toy 104 along thetrack or may be used to assist the movement of the toy 102 along thetrack in conjunction with the movement of the fluid. Thus, embodimentsof the toy track system may be implemented without inclusion of the pump(or structures used to couple the pump to the interior passage 106 ofthe track 102).

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of any embodiment should not belimited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but shouldbe defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

1. A system, comprising: a track having a longitudinal passage; aninsert disposed in the longitudinal passage; and a toy positionedadjacent the track proximate to the insert, an attractive force couplingthe toy to the insert.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the toycomprises a toy car.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising avacuum in fluid communication with the longitudinal passage.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a blower in fluid communicationwith the longitudinal passage.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thetrack has a longitudinal twist.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thetrack forms a ring.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the track forms aMobius strip.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the track has at leastone open end.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the track has at leastone side wall extending therefrom.
 10. The system of claim 1, whereinthe track comprises a plurality of segments detachably connectable withone another.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least onelatch detachably coupling adjacent segments of the track together 12.The system of claim 1, wherein the insert is generally spherical inshape.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert is generallycylindrical in shape.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert hasa generally oval cross section.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein theattractive force comprises a magnetic force.
 16. The system of claim 15wherein the toy has a plate and wherein the magnetic force is betweenthe plate and the insert.
 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the toy hasa motor for at least assisting in moving the toy along the track.
 18. Asystem, comprising: an elongated track having a longitudinal passagecentrally positioned between a pair of sides of the track; each side ofthe track having a side wall extending therefrom, the side walls and thetrack defining a generally H-shaped cross-section; the longitudinalpassage having a generally circular cross-section; the track comprisinga resilient material to permit at least twisting of the track along alongitudinal axis of the track and to permit at least bending of thetrack in a generally trans-axial direction; the track comprising aplurality of segments with each segment having a pair of opposite ends,with at least one end of one segment positioned adjacent one of the endsof another segment; an insert inserted into openings in the adjacentends of the adjacent pair of segments; a gasket interposed betweenadjacent ends of the adjacent pair of segments, the insert extendingbetween the gasket; at least one latch detachably coupling the adjacentends of the adjacent pair of segments together, the latch comprising apair of portions coupled to one of the side wall of the track, the latchportions detachably engaging one another; an insert disposed in thelongitudinal passage, the insert having at least one of a rectangular,oval and circular cross section; a toy vehicle having an attachmentmember positioned adjacent the longitudinal channel proximate to theinsert, a magnetic force coupling the attachment member and the inserttogether, the toy vehicle having a least one wheel in contact with thetrack; a gate mechanism in fluid communication with the longitudinalpassage, the gate mechanism having a connector for coupling the gate toa fluid moving device so that the fluid moving device is in fluidcommunication with the longitudinal channel, the gate mechanism having agate for selectively closing communication between the fluid movingdevice and the longitudinal passage; the fluid moving device comprisingat least one of a vacuum and a blower; and a clamp having a generallyU-shaped saddle receiving a portion of the track therein, the clamphaving a strap coupled to the saddle, the strap being capable of beingwrapped around an object to connect the clamp to the object, the straphaving a hook and loop fastener for coupling opposite ends of the straptogether.
 19. A method, comprising: disposing an insert in alongitudinal passage of a track; and positioning a toy adjacent thetrack proximate to the insert so that an attractive force couples thetoy to the insert; moving a fluid in the longitudinal passage to movethe insert along the longitudinal passage so that the toy is moved alongthe track as the insert is moved.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinthe fluid comprises air.
 21. The method of claim 19, further comprisinga vacuum in fluid communication with the longitudinal passage, thevacuum moving the fluid in the longitudinal passage.
 22. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising a blower in fluid communication with thelongitudinal passage, the blower moving the fluid in the longitudinalpassage.
 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising longitudinallytwisting the track.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the track istwisted to form a Mobius strip.
 25. The method of claim 19, wherein thetoy has a motor, the motor being operatively coupled to at least onetrack engaging member of the toy to move the track engaging member andthereby move the toy along the track.